News in brief

Emmaus training slated Saturday in San Antonio
Special offering Sunday supports human relations
J. Charles ‘Chuck’ Merrill, 69, dies Dec. 29 in Austin
Churches receive materials for Bring a Friend Sunday
5-year-old raises $10,000 for UM anti-malaria effort
Performers, artists sought for ’08 General Conference
Ministry provides wheels for children, homeless
UM Women head to Austin for yearly legislative event
Early signup ends today for Jan. 26-27 choir event
Lay leaders start registering for assemblies in 2 cities
Upper Room still taking people for spiritual academy
Free online course covers UMC structure, doctrines

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Emmaus training slated Saturday in San Antonio
Walk to Emmaus team members can learn how to carry out their duties Saturday during a leadership training seminar in San Antonio.
The free session is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at University UMC and is open to anyone interested in learning about Emmaus leadership.
All incoming lay directors and board members are required to attend a leadership seminar within 15 months of serving on a walk team. Spiritual directors are to attend once every three years.


Special offering Sunday supports human relations
Southwest Texas UMs can join church members around the globe Sunday in collecting a special offering for Human Relations Day.
The offering, established in 1972, is one of six on the UMC calendar each year. Proceeds support church-based community developers in low-income neighborhoods, grass-roots social-justice organizations and local youth-offender rehabilitation programs.


J. Charles ‘Chuck’ Merrill, 69, dies Dec. 29 in Austin
The funeral for the Rev. J. Charles “Chuck” Merrill was Jan. 1 at University UMC, Austin. Burial was Jan. 3 at Austin Memorial Park.
Merrill, 69, a clergy member of the Southwest Texas Conference, died Dec. 29 in Austin from complications related to amyloidosis. He had been on incapacity leave since 2004.
Merrill began his ministry in 1960. He served congregations in Austin, Portland, San Antonio and Universal City before going on incapacity leave. His last pastoral appointment was as senior pastor of University UMC, Austin, from 1985 to 2004.


Churches receive materials for Bring a Friend Sunday
Southwest Texas congregations received planning materials last month for Bring a Friend Sunday 2007.
Set for March 25, Bring a Friend Sunday is the Lenten version of Home for Christmas. On the Sunday before Palm Sunday, UMs are asked to invite and escort friends to worship and a fellowship meal. Then members invite visitors back for Palm Sunday and Easter worship.
A 24-hour prayer vigil in January is to kick off local Bring a Friend Sunday preparations.
Research shows that 70 to 90 percent of people who join a congregation already have friends there.


5-year-old raises $10,000 for UM anti-malaria effort
NEW YORK.—At 5, Katherine Commale of Downingtown, Pa., learned how to raise money for a good cause.
By this past Christmas—with the help of her mother, church and community—Katherine had collected more than $10,000 for the purchase of insecticide-treated bed nets to protect people in Africa from mosquitoes that spread malaria.
She and her family, members of Hopewell UMC, Downingtown, were among the denominational representatives at the Jan. 4 launch of the Nothing But Nets campaign at the NBA Store in Manhattan.
The UMC is partnering with NBA Cares, Sports Illustrated, the United Nations Foundation, the Measles Initiative and others in the campaign to prevent malaria by raising funds to purchase and distribute mosquito bed nets in Africa.
Contributions can be placed into any UM offering plate and designated for Advance No. 982015. One hundred percent of every Advance gift goes to the designated ministry.


Performers, artists sought for ’08 General Conference
MADISON, N.J.—Local church musicians, dancers, video producers and textile artists can audition for a chance to perform during worship services at the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth.
Mark Miller, a co-music director for the assembly, is accepting audition recordings (DVD, CD, VHS, cassette, mpeg, mp3) until March 30.
General Conference meets April 23-May 2, 2008.
People who want to perform should also send brief bios and other supporting materials.
Address materials to Miller at Drew Theological School, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940, or send them by e-mail to mamiller@drew.edu.


Ministry provides wheels for children, homeless
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.—Retiring to Florida after Army careers, Paul and Linda Lawrence were looking for a place to “fit in” at their church.
They found it by repairing bicycles for children, the homeless and others struggling without transportation. The Lawrences spend four hours a day, five days a week repairing bicycles at Edgewater UMC.
Some of the bikes are donated, but most are abandoned and given to the church by area police departments.
The couple took over the ministry three years ago with the help of another church member, Lawrence Lee, who used to work in a bicycle shop and is homeless. The three refurbished more than 700 bicycles in 2006—a record number for the outreach.
Some bikes need only minor repairs, such as fixing a flat tire, and are street-ready in as little as 10 minutes. Other repairs are more challenging, taking up to three


UM Women head to Austin for yearly legislative event
Representatives of Texas’ 80,000 UM Women are heading to Austin Jan. 28-30 for the 19th annual UMW Legislative Event.
Some 150 churchwomen are expected. They are to hear briefings about issues facing the state and spend time visiting
lawmakers at the state Capitol.


Early signup ends today for Jan. 26-27 choir event
The early registration deadline is today for the 2007 Adult Choral Workshop Jan. 26-27 at First UMC, Corpus Christi.
Fee for registrations postmarked by today is $35 per person. The fee includes Saturday lunch and a music packet.
After today the registration fee is $45 per person.
John Yarrington, professor of music at Houston Baptist University, is featured clinician for the two-day event.
The annual workshop, sponsored by the Board of Discipleship, brings singers, choir directors and accompanists together to experience new music, improve musicianship and gain insights into worship leadership.


Lay leaders start registering for assemblies in 2 cities
Lay leaders have begun registering for the two 2007 Laity Assemblies.
The first session is Feb. 23-24 at Mount Wesley Conference Center, Kerrville. The second is March 2-3 at First UMC, Kingsville.
The Rev. J. Michael Lowry, executive director of new church development and transformation, is keynote speaker for both events.
Registration fees for the Mount Wesley session are $60 per person for people staying on campus and $35 per person for others. Kingsville fee is $30 per person. Registration forms are avilable at www.umcswtx.org.


Upper Room still taking people for spiritual academy
Upper Room Ministries is still accepting registrations for the Academy for Spiritual Formation beginning Jan. 23 in San Antonio.
The two-year academy takes participants on a journey into the heart, mind, soul and will of Christ, organizers said. Participants are to gather for five days every three months through 2008 at Oblate Renewal Center in San Antonio.
Upper Room Ministries, a unit of the General Board of Discipleship, sponsors the academy. For more information call (877) 899-2781, Extension 7233.


Free online course covers UMC structure, doctrines
Southwest Texas UMs can take part in a free online course about the UMC through Feb. 15. UM101 covers basics of UMC organization and doctrine. For information or registration check http://training.umcom.org.